WQ0004678_Final Permit_19910531

State of North Carolina
Department of Environment, Health and Natural Resources
Division of Environmental Management
512 North Salisbury Street • Raleigh, North Carolina 27626-0535
James G. Martin, Governor George T. Everett, Ph.D.
William W. Cobey, Jr., Secretary Director
-�1ay 31, 1991
The Honorable Charles VonCanon
Town of Banner Elk
Post Office Box 156
Banner Elk, North Carolina 28604
Subject: Permit No. WQ0004678
Town of Banner Elk
Sludge Lime Stabilization/
Pasteurization Facilities
Avery County
Dear Mayor VonCanon:
In accordance with your application received January 31, 1991, we are forwarding
herewith Permit No. WQ0004678, dated May 31, 1991, to the Town of Banner Elk for the
construction and operation of a sludge lime stabilization/pasteurization facility.
This permit shall be effective from the date of issuance until April 30, 1996, and shall be
subject to the conditions and limitations as specified therein. Please pay particular attention to the
monitoring requirements in this permit. Failure to establish an adequate system for collecting and
maintaining the required operational information will result in future compliance problems.
If any parts, requirements, or limitations contained in this permit are unacceptable to you,
you have the right to request an adjudicatory hearing upon written request within 30 days
following receipt of this permit. This request must be in the form of a written petition, conforming
to Chapter 150B of North Carolina General Statutes, and filed with the Office of Administrative
Hearings, P.O. Drawer 27447, Raleigh, NC 27611-7447. Unless such demands are made this
permit shall be final and binding.
One set of approved plans and specifications is being forwarded to you. If you need
additional information concerning this matter, please contact Mark Hawes at 919/ 733-5083.
Si erely,
George T. Eve tt
cc: Avery County Health Department
Asheville Regional Office
McGill Associates, P.A. 6
Facilities Assessment Unit
Pollution Prevention Pays
P.O. Box 29535, Raleigh, North Carolina 27626-0535 Telephone [phone]
An Equal Opportunity Affirmative Action Employer

NORTH CAROLINA
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT COMMISSION
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT, HEALTH AND NATURAL RESOURCES
RALEIGH
LIME STABILIZATION/Pasteurization PERMIT
In accordance with the provisions of Article 21 of Chapter 143, General Statutes of North
Carolina as amended, and other applicable Laws, Rules, and Regulations
PERMISSION IS HEREBY GRANTED TO
Town of Banner Elk
AVERY County
FOR THE
construction and operation of a sludge lime stabilization/pasteurization facility consisting of a 1,000
cubic yard lime silo, a bulk mixer, and a 6 cubic yard insulated hopper with temperature and pH
monitoring equipment to serve the Town of Banner Elk with no discharge of wastes to the surface
waters, pursuant to the application received January 31, 1991 and in conformity with the project
plan, specifications, and other supporting data subsequently filed and approved by the Department
of Environment, Health and Natural Resources and considered a part of this permit.
This permit shall be effective from the date of issuance until April 30, 1996, and shall be
subject to the following specified conditions and limitations:
I. PERFORMANCE ,STANDARDS
1. This permit shall become voidable in the event of failure of the sludge lime
stabilization/pasteurization facility to adequately protect the assigned water quality standards
of the surface waters and groundwaters.
2. The sludge lime stabilization/pasteurization program shall be effectively maintained and
operated as a non -discharge system to prevent discharge of any wastes resulting from the
operation of this program.
3. The issuance of this permit shall not relieve the Permittee of the responsibility for damages
to surface or groundwaters resulting from the operation of this facility.
4. In the event that the sludge lime stab i I iz a tion/pasteurization facility is not operated
satisfactorily, including the creation of nuisance conditions, the Permittee shall take such
immediate corrective action as may be required by this Department, including the
construction of additional or replacement wastewater treatment or disposal facilities.
5. Diversion or bypassing of the untreated sludge or pasteurized sludge drainage wastewater
from the sludge lime stabilization/pasteurization facilities is prohibited.
6. Pasteurized sludge should not be used in areas of intense public use (schools, playgrounds,
etc.).

7 . The Town o�3anner Elk shall notify the Asheville Regional Office [phone] at least
forty-eight ( )'hours prior to initial operation of the sludge lime stabilization/pasteurization
facility so that an in place inspection can be made of the facility and of the operation of the
facility.
Il. OPRATION AND MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENTS
1. The facilities and disposal sites shall be properly maintained and operated at all times.
2. The sludge lime stabilization/Pasteurization operation must be conducted under the
supervision of the certified wastewater treatment plant operator required by the Certification
Commission for operation of the sludge lime stabilization/pasteurization facility.
3. The sludge lime stabilization/pasteurization facility shall be located on the 3,600 sf sludge
storage pad approved under AC0032115 on September 28, 1990.
4. Pasteurized sludge shall be stored on the 3,600 sf sludge storage pad approved under
AC0032115 on September 28, 1990.
5. The pH of the final product shall not exceed 12.5 standard units.
6. The insulated hopper shall maintain a uniform temperature of 700 C (1580 F) for a period
of at least 30 minutes from the initial reading of 700 C (1580 F).
III. MONITORING AND REPORTING REQUIREMENTS
1. Any monitoring (including groundwater, surface water, sludge, soil, or plant tissue
analyses) deemed necessary by the Division of Environmental Management to insure
protection of the environment will be established and an acceptable sampling and reporting
schedule shall be followed.
2. The Town of Banner Elk shall monitor the temperature of each batch of sludge during the
lime stabilization/pasteurization process. Temperatures shall be measured at the center of
the hopper and approximately 6 inches from each corner of the hopper. Temperatures shall
be measured every five (5) minutes for a period of 30 minutes after an initial reading of
700 C (1580 F).
3. The Town of Banner Elk shall maintain records including, but not limited to the following:
a. volume and analysis of sludge and cement kiln dust
b. date, duration and temperature during Iime stabilization/pasteurization
c. name of compost recipient, volume received, and intended use
These records shall be available at the wastewater treatment facility for inspection and
review by the Division.
The Town of Banner Elk shall present to each recipient of lime stabilized/pasteurized sludge
written information that clearly states that lime stabilized/pasteurized sludge cannot be used
on areas where root or leaf crops for direct human consumption are to be grown within one
(1) year of the last application of lime stabilized/pasteurized sludge to the site, the nutrient
content of the product, the metals content of the product, and the pH of the product. The
Town of Banner Elk shall also include written recommendations to the lime
stabilized/pasteurized sludge product recipients for satisfactory uses of lime
stabilized/pasteurized material such as loading rates for horticulture, silvicultural, other
agricultural uses not specifically prohibited, etc.
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An annual Summary report shall be submitted by the Town of Bannertik to the Division's
Asheville Regional Office which summarizes the information required for recording.
4. Noncompliance Notification:
The Permittee shall report by telephone to the Asheville Regional Office, telephone no.
[phone], as soon as possible, but in no case more than 24 hours or on the next
working day following the occurrence or first knowledge of -the. occurrence of any of the
following:
a. Any occurrence with the lime stabilization/pasteurization program which results in the
lime stab ilization/Pasteurization of significant amounts of wastes which are abnormal
in quantity characteristic.
b. Any failure of the lime stabilization/pasteurization program resulting in a discharge of
wastes to receiving waters.
c. Any time that self-monitoring information indicates that the facility has gone out of
compliance with the conditions and limitations of this permit or the parameters on
which the system was designed.
d. Any process unit failure, due to known or unknown reasons, that render the facility
incapable of adequate sludge treatment.
e. Any leakage or spillage that occurs during the transfer or transport of the lime
stabilized/pasteurized material.
Persons reporting such occurrences by telephone shall also file a written report in letter
form within 15 days following first knowledge of the occurrence. This report must outline
the actions taken or proposed to be taken to ensure that the problem does not recur.
IV. GROUNDWATER RE01 JIREMF_NTS
1. Any groundwater quality monitoring as deemed necessary by the Division of
Environmental Management shall be provided.
V. INSPECTIONS
The Permittee or his designee shall inspect the sludge storage, transport, and lime
stabilization/pasteurization facilities to prevent malfunctions and deterioration, operator
errors and discharges which may cause or lead to the release of wastes to the environment,
a threat to human health, or a nuisance. The Permittee shall keep an inspection log or
summary including at least the date and time of inspection, observations made, and any
maintenance, repairs, or corrective actions taken by the Permittee. This log: of inspections
shall be maintained by the Permittee for a period of three years from the date of the
inspection and shall be made available upon request by the Division of Environmental
Management or other permitting authority.
2. Any duly authorized officer, employee, or representative of the Division of Environmental
Management may, upon presentation of credentials, enter and inspect any property,
premises or place on or related to the lime stabilization/pasteurization facility and facility at
any reasonable time for the purpose of determining compliance with this permit; may
inspect or copy any records that must be kept under the terms and conditions of this permit;
or may obtain samples of groundwater, surface water, or leachate.
3

VI. GENERAL CONDITIONS
1. This permit shall become voidable unless the lithe stabilization/pasteurization activities are
carried out in accordance with the conditions of this permit and in the manner approved by
this Division.
2. This permit is effective only with respect to the nature and volume of wastes described in
the application and other supporting data.
3. This permit is not transferable. In the event there is a desire for the facilities to change
ownership or a name change of the Permittee, a formal permit request must be submitted to
the Division of Environmental Management accompanied by an application fee,
documentation from the parties involved, and other supporting materials as may be
appropriate. The approval of this request will be considered on its merits and play or may
not be approved.
4. Failure to abide by the conditions and limitations contained in this permit may subject the
Permittee to an enforcement action by the Division of Environmental Management in
accordance with North Carolina General Statute 143-215.6.
5. The annual administering and compliance fee must be paid by the Permittee within thirty
(30) days after being billed by the Division. Failure to pay the fee accordingly may cause
the Division to initiate action to revoke this permit as specified by 15 NCAC 2H .0205
(c) (4).
6. The issuance of this permit does not preclude the Permittee from complying with any and
all statutes, rules, regulations, or ordinances which may be imposed by other government
agencies (local, state, and federal) which have jurisdiction.
7. A set of approved documents for the subject project must be retained by the applicant for
the life of the project.
8. The Permittee, at least six (6) months prior to the expiration of this permit, shall request its
extension. Upon receipt of the request, the Commission will review the adequacy of the
facilities described therein, and if warranted, will extend the permit for such period of time
and under such conditions and limitations as it may deem appropriate.
9. This permit may be modified or reissued to incorporate any conditions, limitations and
monitoring requirements the Division of Environmental Management deems necessary in
order to adequately protect the environment and public health.
Permit issued this the 31st day of May, 1991
CAROLINA ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT COMMISSION
George Everett, D' ector
Division of Envir nmental na ement
By Authority of the viro al Management Commission
Permit No. WQ0004678
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Permit No. W0004678
May 31, 1991 - 31,
Engineer's Certification
I, , as a duly registered Professional Engineer in the State of North
Carolina, having been authorized to observe (periodically, weekly, full time) the construction of the
project, , for the
Project Name Location
Permittee hereby state that, to the best of my abilities, due care and diligence was used in the
observation of the construction such that the construction was observed to be built within substantial
compliance and intent of the approved plans and specifications.
Signature
Date
5
Registration N